Generational scholar returns to ECC for a business breakfast, networking event

Elgin Community College's Office of Professional Development invites the CEOs, business leaders, and senior HR professionals to attend a breakfast and networking event with Chuck Underwood, one of the pioneering scholars in the field of generational study, on Thursday, April 30. It will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. in Building E, Room E125 on the college's main campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Underwood will present "The Generational Disruption of the Marketplace, Workplace, and Leadership." It will discuss how America has five living generations whose minute-by-minute decisions are guided by powerful generational core values. Underwood believes it is essential for leaders of business, government, education, and religion to understand the profound disruption of the marketplace, workplace, leadership, and governance that is created by generational differences and learn to use generational strategies to guide their own daily decision making.

For the first time in the history of the modern workforce, employees from many different generations are working side by side with people who are as young as their children and as old as their parents.

In the workplace, generational differences can affect everything, including recruiting, building teams, dealing with change, motivating, managing, and maintaining and increasing productivity. Generational differences, affect how people communicate, which might result in misunderstandings, high employee turnover, difficulty in attracting employees and gaining employee commitment.

Underwood will provide tips, tactics, and guidelines to help attendees proactively anticipate and handle generational disruption. Participants will receive a signed copy of his book "The Generational Imperative: Understanding Generational Differences in the Workplace, Marketplace, and Living Room."

This networking event is the kickoff session to a list of professional development workshops designed for ECC employees. Underwood was the keynote speaker at the college's spring convocation in January.

To register for this free event, please fill out the online RSVP form at goo.gl/forms/IYqQ5giovN by Friday, April 24, to reserve your seat.

For additional information, contact ProfessionalDevelopmentRegistration@elgin.edu.